A smooth, malty well-hopped ale, with a full aromatic nose made with 100% barley, hops, water and yeast. The "best bitter" description refers to this beer's higher alcohol content and its depth of hop bitterness. It is named for Jim Baldwin & Ed Cooper, the first men to climb the Grand Wall of the Stawamus Chief (702 m) in July, 1961.

Reviews by marty21:

A: Pours a hazy copper orange with 1.5 fingers worth of creamy off white head. Settles to nice cap and left pretty good lacing.

S: Caramel malt with some grassy hops and earthy aromas.

T: Caramel malt up front with grassy hops taking over at the finish. It has a nice lingering bitterness left behind.

M: Medium body with lighter carbonation.

O: If you like bitter beers this one is really good. It leaves a long lasting bitter feeling in your mouth long after you’ve swallowed. It’s quite expensive at the MLCC though so not sure if I’ll be buying it again.

More User Reviews:

It's great to see Howe Sound now in my area,I have had a few of their beers in the past from online stores in the Pacific NW.Pours into an imperial nonic a clear rich deep bronze with a tightly formed half finger lacey white head atop.Aromas are fruity with a tinge of hard water and caramel,light leafy hops linger.Malt driven as it should be with caramel/biscuit really standing out, a bit of brown sugar and toffee come into play as well,again the leafy hops linger in the finish.A damn fine ESB actually one of the better ones I have had in awhile,well done.

The bubbles are capably supportive, and underhandedly spritzy, the body an adequate medium weight, and generally quite smooth, all things considered. It finishes on the sweet side, but in a pleasantly biscuity, cake-like manner, all balanced well enough by the lingering fruit and hop.

A bit strange for a best bitter to be north of 5% ABV, but this new worlder ain't complainin'. Mostly because the whole affair is commensurately amped up, round and full. Oh - and tasty. Pretty tasty.

At the Alibi Room. Grapefruit colour. Bubble and cream on top. Some hop aroma. A good bitterness, I like this brewery, but a bit thin mouthfeel and I argue too sweet, dry and citrussy finish.They dopn't need honey and sugar. Appropriately carbonated. A bit better as it warmed.

Poured from a 1L resealable bottle. The nose offers inviting malty aromas with some nutty notes. This traditional English-style ESB offers lots of toffee on the forward palate and then a big citrus rind bitter snap on the finish. It's not hugely complex but it is definitely satisfying for a fan of this style.

Poured in a hazy, red-brown colour. Great smell, just like I imagine a good bitter. The taste was excellent. Bitter, with grassy hops and roasted malts, not too much sugar. Just enough carbonation. After 15-20 minutes the hops calm down and some breadnotes become discernible. This is a rich, fresh and one of the most well-crfated Canadian beers that I have tasted.

A- poured out a slightly hazy deep amber. Had a nice tan foamy head with great retention. Lacing was sticky a plentiful

S- rich malt tones dominate. Caramel, fresh bread and dark fruit all came to mind. Reminded me of the bitters from England

T- again, rich malt flavors dominate. But there is a an interesting citrus hoppy bite on the finish. Not quite true to style, but very close and the change is a nice one. Like most English-style beers, the flavor really comes alive as the beer warms into the 50-55 degree range and the hops mellows.

M- has a pleasant fullness on the palate and a nice crisp bite on the finish from the hops

O- this is a great best bitter, very similar to the original style but with a good twist. I would love to try this on cask from a hand engine.

A: pours cascadingly into a chill-hazed ruby brown with a 1 finger off-white head that had good retention and leaves a good lace on my glass.

S: chocolately, caramel malts on the nose with nice northwest hops in the backgroud as well.

T: smooth caramelly malts up front, then the hops come out to play. very well hopped. leave s a pleasant, bittersweet hop flavour on the long finish.

M: medium to heavy-bodied, creamy and crisp. goes down smooth and somewhat dry.

D: another great beer from Howe Sound. i'm lovin' the hops in this bitter and the malts provide for a nice sweetness that does not overpower. It is a bit heavy so I don't know if I would drink more than one bottle - but then again, it is 1 litre... well made and well enjoyed.

This my peeps is the answer to where has the lost ESB from Shaftebury gone. Well kinda of as this tastes just like that sadly departed great BC beer. The beer looks fab with that toffee colour and big head. The nose is all British hops with a west coast flair. The thing that makes this a real treasure is the perfect balance between malt and hop. Complexity, drinkability and a full mouthfeel are apparent in every sip. Say hello to the best ESB in BC.

Definitely the best ESB in the province. Toffee colour with off white head, and a rich malty smell with a very nice hop nose on it. Well done hop-malt balance in the taste department. The hop bitterness cuts down on the malts and there is a very slight brown sugar after taste. Nearly as good as Fuller's. Ctirus and sour hints on the taste, as well as a semi-sweet malt profile.

I agree with canucklehead; this is a very well done beer. My bottles says 5.4% ABV, not 5%.